For years, WiFi versions have been commonly named with combinations of numbers, letters, and special symbols. For example, 802.11ab, 802.11n, or a/b/g/n.
However, things are about to change now. The Wi-Fi Alliance, the group that provides IEEE-defined names for WiFi versions, has decided to make the names simpler from now on. The next Wi-Fi version will be called WiFi 6 – plain and simple.
“For nearly two decades, WiFi users have had to sort through technical names to determine if devices support the latest WiFi,” said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
It also introduced the new naming system and announced that the upcoming version is Wifi 6 according to the following timeline –
Wi-Fi 1: 802.11b (1999)
Wi-Fi 2: 802.11a (1999)
Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g (2003)
Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n (2009)
Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac (2014)
Wi-Fi 6: 8.2.11ax (2019)
The real name of Wi-Fi 6 is 8.2.11ax and it will succeed 802.11ac with some significant improvements. Wi-Fi 6 will have a 37% higher data rate compared to Wi-Fi 5, running eight 5GHz streams and four 2.4 GHz streams.
The new Wi-Fi version promises higher speed and increased performance for the user, even when multiple devices are connected simultaneously.
Regarding the nomenclature, the Wi-Fi Alliance has stated that every major company that manufactures Wi-Fi-related equipment must follow the new naming system.
The Alliance will also ensure that the naming of Wi-Fi servers and versions shown in advertisements is simpler. In addition, previous versions of Wi-Fi will now be referred to by their simpler names.
